I recently stumbled upon an article with links to video footage of many of Jacqueline du Pre's performances. I had forgotten how transporting her playing is for me. Her sometimes dramatic body movements and her exquisite phrasing conspire to whisk me away into imagination.

I love the way she lets humanity seep into her tone production. Instead of shaping every note into a beautiful round rope of sound, she allows a little scratching and gasping. She's an actor, letting her voice crack when the lines call for it.

But Jacqueline du Pre was so much more than that. When I am watching these videos, I feel as though she is actually living the story of the music. Instead of watching an actor speak lines that someone else wrote, it feels as though these are her own words--like she's in her own reality show and we are allowed to spy on her through the magic of TV. Frantic tantrums, serene reflection, and ecstatic joy--it's a wonderful adventure with her!